Hi [USER=3871]@JasmineM9[/USER],
It's so great to see you diligently update this thread with your progress! The road to a training contract isn't a straight path, and most people will inevitably face setbacks. But it only takes one yes. About your comments about sending more applications, here are some of my suggestions.
As you've experienced, many candidates realise that they hope to apply to more firms. This is undoubtedly a good idea; applications are a numbers game, and you reduce risks by applying to more places. During my vacation scheme cycle, despite only being interested in 3 firms, I pushed myself to apply to several firms I wouldn't ordinarily list as my top priority. Some of the applications that I didn't view as particularly significant at the time led to training contracts and vacation scheme offers, which offered security and options!
My one piece of advice here is to avoid a scattergun approach, which is when we maximise the number of applications while lowering the quality of each individual application. Rather, I'd recommend allocating more time to some applications you regard as higher value and adjusting your strategy for other firms. This way, you will still have a high standard for your work while diversifying for risk. This strategy helped me maximise my application numbers while focusing heavily on my top 3 firms. Regarding how many applications to do, we generally recommend doing as many applications as possible while maintaining a high standard for your work. This means showing a high level of research, perfect grammar, and clearly communicated motivations.
Good luck!
